Floating tow harness device and method

ABSTRACT

A floating tow harness device includes a center member, a float body including an outer surface, the float body rotatably coupled around the center member, a tow member, and a boat couple. The tow member includes a towing end connector, a tow item couple, and a harness extension spanning between the towing end connector and the tow item couple. The boat couple includes a boat end connector, a boat mounting couple, and a boat couple extension spanning between the boat end connector and the boat mounting couple. The device is useful for removably joining a load to a boat while keeping the tow harness away from the boat motor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/505,604 filed May 12, 2017, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of watercraft of existing art and more specifically relates to buoyancy devices.

RELATED ART

When towing rafts or tubes behind a boat, the rope can get tangled in the prop, not only damaging the rope but the prop on the motor, which can be expensive to repair. Currently, there are devices on the market to keep ropes from fouling the prop, but unfortunately, such devices must first be inflated, which is inconvenient and time consuming An effective alternative is needed.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,750 to Henry J. Holzhauer relates to a water ski tow harness float. The described water ski tow harness float includes a tubular float for use in a water ski tow device. The float has a hollow shaft pulley in one end thereof and a slot in the other end thereof. A hitch rope is attached to the transom of the boat at locations displaced from the central axis of the boat. The hitch rope is roved through the pulley. A tow rope is inserted through the slot and passed along the tubular body of the float through the hollow shaft of the pulley back along the hollow body of the float through the slot from an opposite direction and then tied or spliced to the main length of the tow rope to form a tow structure not susceptible to failure in the event of structural damage to the float.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known buoyancy device art, the present disclosure provides a novel floating tow harness device. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a float for a tow harness that may spin in the wake of the boat and prevent the rope from getting tangled in the motor.

A floating tow harness device harness for a tensile tow load between a boat and a water-towable item is disclosed herein. The floating tow harness device may include a center member, a float body including an outer surface, the float body rotatably coupled around the center member, a tow member, and a boat couple. The tow member may include a towing end connector, a tow item couple, and a harness extension spanning between the towing end connector and the tow item couple. The boat couple may include a boat end connector, a boat mounting couple, and a boat couple extension spanning between the boat end connector and the boat mounting couple. The device may be used to removably join a load to a boat while keeping the tow harness away from the boat motor.

According to another embodiment, a method of coupling a water-towable item to a boat is also disclosed herein. The method of coupling a water-towable item to a boat may include providing a floating tow harness as described above, coupling the boat mounting couple with the boat tow mount of the boat, and attaching the tow member to the water-towable item.

For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a floating tow harness device, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the floating tow harness device during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the floating tow harness device of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is perspective view of the floating tow harness device of FIG. 1, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side cutaway view of the floating tow harness device of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of coupling a water-towable item to a boat, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a buoyancy device and more particularly to a floating tow harness device that may be used to provide a float for a tow harness, and further, which may spin in the wake of the boat and help prevent the rope from getting tangled in the motor.

Generally, the present device may aid in providing a safe and convenient way for boats to pull rafts or towables behind them. The device may eliminate line drag between the boat and the tubes by keeping the rope out of the water. It may keep the rope from fouling the prop on the motor. The device may also “pop” or otherwise illuminate in the water with bright colors, and spin while creating a slight wave. The device may additionally provide hours of entertainment as adults and kids may love watching it behind the boat. This present device may eliminate the need for other tow harness devices that need to be inflated. The present disclosure may help save boaters a considerable amount of time and hassle.

The device of this disclosure may also be referred to as a “hydro ball tow harness.” The device may help boats tow rafts and tubes without tow ropes getting stuck in the motor. This innovative product may include a prolate spheroid-shape buoyant device (e.g., football shaped), made from plastic or other suitable materials, with connector ropes on either end and hooks designed to attach to the back of a boat and water sports floatation crafts. The connectors can have a single- or double-strap design to suit user needs. The buoy can be brightly colored and can have a spiral design to spin in the water, creating a slight wave that may help prevent ropes from becoming tangled in the motor. Further, the buoy can have a metal rod through the middle to facilitate a spinning motion. The body of the device may also feature fins or spinners on either end of the device to help enable the spinning motion of the main body. The buoy can be offered in assorted sizes as needed to accommodate user needs. The exact specifications may vary upon manufacturing.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in FIGS. 1-4, various views of a floating tow harness 100.

FIG. 1 shows a floating tow harness 100 during an ‘in-use’ condition 50, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the floating tow harness 100 may be beneficial for use by a user to provide a float for a tow harness that may spin in the wake of the boat and prevent the rope from getting tangled in the motor. The floating tow harness 100 for a boat 10 and a water-towable item 20 may include a center member 110 (FIG. 4), a float body 120 having an outer surface 121, a tow member 130, and a boat couple 140. The center member 110 may have a center axis 99 (FIG. 4) extending between a first end (tow item side) and a second end (boat side), where the tow member 130 is coupled to the center member 110 proximate its first end, the boat couple 140 is coupled to the center member 110 proximate its second end, and the float body 120 is rotably coupled to the center member 110 about its center axis 99. Floating tow harness 100 is configured to transfer a tensile tow load between the boat 10 and the water-towable item 20.

According to one embodiment, the floating tow harness 100 may be arranged as a kit 105. In particular, the floating tow harness 100 may further include a set of instructions 107. The instructions 107 may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the floating tow harness 100 such that the floating tow harness 100 can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner.

FIG. 2 shows the floating tow harness 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the floating tow harness 100 may include the center member 110 (FIG. 4), the float body 120 including the outer surface 121, the tow member 130, and the boat couple 140. As shown here, the float body 120 may include a screw-type groove 122 (e.g., spiral groves and/or spiral ridges) circumscribing the outer surface 121 along the center axis 99 (FIG. 4) of the center member 110. The float body 120 may also include a signaling indicia 123 configured as a fluorescent color.

The boat couple 140 may include a boat end connector 141, a boat mounting couple 142, and a boat couple extension 143 spanning between the boat end connector 141 and the boat mounting couple 142. The boat couple 140 may be configured to transfer the tensile tow load between the boat end connector 141 and the boat mounting couple 142 via the boat couple extension 143. According to one embodiment, the boat mounting couple 142 may include a quick-release coupling, such as carabiner 145.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the floating tow harness 100 of FIG. 1, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, floating tow harness 100 may include the center member 110 (FIG. 4), the float body 120, the tow member 130, and the boat couple 140. Also as above, the float body 120 may include the screw-type groove 122 circumscribing the outer surface 121. According to one embodiment, the boat couple 140 may be adapted as a dual-couple 144 configured to couple with the boat 10 (FIG. 1) at two separated locations.

The tow member 130 may include a towing end connector 131, a tow item couple 132, and a harness extension 133 spanning between the towing end connector 131 and the tow item couple 132. The tow member 130 may be configured to transfer the tensile tow load between the towing end connector 131 and the tow item couple 132 via the harness extension 133. According to one embodiment, the tow item couple 132 may also include a tow hook 134 and a clip release 135, which may be configured to removably couple with the water-towable item 20 (FIG. 1).

FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of the floating tow harness 100 of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the floating tow harness 100 may include the center member 110, the float body 120 including the outer surface 121, the tow member 130, and the boat couple 140. Also as above, the float body 120 may include the screw-type groove 122 circumscribing the outer surface 121.

The center member 110 may embodied as an elongate member 113, having a boat end 111 and a towing end 112, where the center member 110 extends along its center axis 99 between and including the boat end 111 and the towing end 112. Further, the center member 110 may be configured to transfer the tensile tow load between the boat end 111 and the towing end 112 via the elongate member 113. For example, as shown, the center member 110 may be a stainless steel rod with couplings (e.g., removable loops and buoy retainers/bearings) on each end.

The float body 120 may be rotatably coupled around the center member 110 and configured to buoy the center member 110. According to one embodiment, the float body 120 may also be configured to spin about the center member 110 in response to being pulled in water.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 500 of coupling a water-towable item to a boat, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method 500 of coupling a water-towable item to a boat may include one or more components or features of the floating tow harness 100 as described above. As illustrated, the method 500 of coupling a water-towable item to a boat may include the steps of: step one 501, providing the floating tow harness 100 (e.g., including a center member having a boat end and a towing end, the center member configured to transfer the tensile tow load between the boat end and the towing end, a float body including an outer surface, the float body rotatably coupled around the center member, the float body configured to buoy the center member and to rotate about the center member, a tow member including a towing end connector, a tow item couple, and a harness extension spanning between the towing end connector and the tow item couple, the tow member configured to transfer the tensile tow load between the towing end connector and the tow item couple via the harness extension, the towing end connector configured to affix to the towing end of the center member, the tow item couple configured to couple with the water-towable item, and a boat couple including a boat end connector, a boat mounting couple, and a boat couple extension spanning between the boat end connector and the boat mounting couple, the boat end connector configured to affix to the boat end of the center member, and the boat mounting couple configured to removably couple with the boat tow mount of the boat); step two 502, coupling the boat mounting couple with the boat tow mount of the boat; and step three 503, attaching the tow member to the water-towable item. According to one embodiment, the method 500 may further include a step 504, removing the tow member from the water-towable item.

It should be noted that step 504 is an optional step and may not be implemented in all cases. Optional steps of the method 500 of coupling a water-towable item to a boat are illustrated using dotted lines in FIG. 5 so as to distinguish them from the other steps of the method 500. It should also be noted that the steps described in the method of use can be carried out in many different orders according to user preference. The use of “step of” should not be interpreted as “step for”, in the claims herein and is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). It should also be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for the floating tow harness 100, are taught herein.

The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. 

What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
 1. A floating tow harness for a tensile tow load between a boat and a water-towable item, the boat having a boat tow mount, the floating tow harness comprising: a center member having a boat end and a towing end, the center member configured to transfer the tensile tow load between the boat end and the towing end; a float body including an outer surface, the float body rotatably coupled around the center member, the float body configured to buoy the center member and to rotate about the center member; a tow member including a towing end connector, a tow item couple, and a harness extension spanning between the towing end connector and the tow item couple, the tow member configured to transfer the tensile tow load between the towing end connector and the tow item couple via the harness extension, the towing end connector configured to affix to the towing end of the center member, the tow item couple configured to couple with the water-towable item; and a boat couple including a boat end connector, a boat mounting couple, and a boat couple extension spanning between the boat end connector and the boat mounting couple, the boat end connector configured to affix to the boat end of the center member, and the boat mounting couple configured to removably couple with the boat tow mount of the boat.
 2. The floating tow harness of claim 1, wherein the float body is rounded.
 3. The floating tow harness of claim 1, wherein the tow item couple includes a tow hook and a clip release, the tow item couple configured to removably couple with the water-towable item.
 4. The floating tow harness of claim 1, wherein the water-towable item is an inflatable tube.
 5. The floating tow harness of claim 1, wherein the boat mounting couple includes a dual-couple configured to couple with the boat at two separated locations.
 6. The floating tow harness of claim 1, wherein the float body includes a screw-type groove circumscribing the outer surface.
 7. The floating tow harness of claim 6, wherein the screw-type groove is configured to rotate the float body around the center member when the floating tow harness is pulled by the boat in a body of water.
 8. The floating tow harness of claim 1, wherein the float body is made of plastic.
 9. The floating tow harness of claim 1, wherein the float body is sized and dimensioned to provide at least 10 pounds of buoyancy force in water.
 10. The floating tow harness of claim 1, wherein the float body includes a signaling indicia.
 11. The floating tow harness of claim 9, wherein the signaling indicia includes at least one fluorescent color.
 12. The floating tow harness of claim 1, wherein the boat mounting couple includes a carabiner.
 13. The floating tow harness of claim 1, wherein the center member has a hollow core.
 14. The floating tow harness of claim 1, wherein the boat couple extension is at least 5 feet in length.
 15. The floating tow harness of claim 1, wherein the harness extension is at least 10 feet in length.
 16. The floating tow harness of claim 1, wherein the tensile tow load between the boat and the water-towable item is at least 50 pounds.
 17. A floating tow harness for a boat and a water-towable item, the floating tow harness comprising: a center member having a boat end and a towing end, the center member configured to transfer the tensile tow load between the boat end and the towing end; a float body including an outer surface, the float body rotatably coupled around the center member, the float body configured to buoy the center member and to rotate about the center member; a tow member including a towing end connector, a tow item couple, and a harness extension spanning between the towing end connector and the tow item couple, the tow member configured to transfer the tensile tow load between the towing end connector and the tow item couple via the harness extension, the towing end connector configured to affix to the towing end of the center member, the tow item couple configured to couple with the water-towable item; and a boat couple including a boat end connector, a boat mounting couple, and a boat couple extension spanning between the boat end connector and the boat mounting couple, the boat end connector configured to affix to the boat end of the center member, and the boat mounting couple configured to removably couple with the boat tow mount of the boat; and wherein the float body is rounded; wherein the tow item couple includes a tow hook and a clip release, the tow item couple configured to removably couple with the water-towable item; wherein the water-towable item is an inflatable tube; wherein the boat mounting couple includes a dual-couple configured to couple with the boat at two separated locations; wherein the float body includes a screw-type groove circumscribing the outer surface; wherein the screw-type groove is configured to rotate the float body around the center member when the floating tow harness is pulled by the boat in a body of water; wherein the float body is made of plastic; wherein the float body is sized and dimensioned to provide at least 10 pounds of buoyancy force in water; wherein the float body includes a signaling indicia; wherein the signaling indicia includes at least one fluorescent color; wherein the boat mounting couple includes a carabiner; wherein the center member has a hollow core; wherein the harness extension is at least 10 feet in length; and wherein the tensile tow load between the boat and the water-towable item is at least 50 pounds.
 18. The floating tow harness of claim 17, further comprising set of instructions; and wherein the floating tow harness is arranged as a kit.
 19. A method of coupling a water-towable item to a boat, the boat having a boat tow mount, the method comprising the steps of: providing a floating tow harness including a center member having a boat end and a towing end, the center member configured to transfer the tensile tow load between the boat end and the towing end; a float body including an outer surface, the float body rotatably coupled around the center member, the float body configured to buoy the center member and to rotate about the center member, a tow member including a towing end connector, a tow item couple, and a harness extension spanning between the towing end connector and the tow item couple, the tow member configured to transfer the tensile tow load between the towing end connector and the tow item couple via the harness extension, the towing end connector configured to affix to the towing end of the center member, the tow item couple configured to couple with the water-towable item, and a boat couple including a boat end connector, a boat mounting couple, and a boat couple extension spanning between the boat end connector and the boat mounting couple, the boat end connector configured to affix to the boat end of the center member, and the boat mounting couple configured to removably couple with the boat tow mount of the boat; coupling the boat mounting couple with the boat tow mount of the boat; and, attaching the tow member to the water-towable item.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of removing the tow member from the water-towable item. 